Improvement in washing-machines



' A. D. SMITH & .T. B. COLLISON;

WASHING-MACHINE.

2 SheetsSheet 1.

Patented Dec.26, 1876.

7? W O @1 I INVENTOR s, 7; 49. W47.

ATTORN EYS,

ZSheets-Sheet 2. A. D. SMITH. & J. B. COLLISON.

WASHING-MACHINE. No.185,79Z. Patented Dec. 26, 1876.

WTORNEYS.

TH E GRAPHIC ID-N56 UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

ALBERT D. SMITH AND JOHN B. OOLLISON, OF NELSONVILLE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [85,792, dated December26, 1876; application filed October 28, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT D. SMITH and JOHN B. UOLLISON, ofNelsonville, in the county of Athens, and State of Ohio, have invented anew and valuable improvement in Washing-Machines; and we do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a central verticalsection, and Fig. 2 is a detail view of the frame. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of our Washing-machine, and Fig. 4 a rear view thereof. Fig. 5is a detail view, and Fig. 6 is a rear view, of the same.

This invention relates to machines for washing clothes and otherfabrics; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of theparts hereinafter set forth.

in the annexed drawings, A designates the suds-box or casing of mywashing-machine. Said sudsbox is rectangular in form, and is providedat'the corners of its bottom with four short supporting standards orlegs, B B. To one end of said box is rigidly secured an upwardly andoutwardly inclined wringingboard, (J, which is recessed on its upper andinner face to prevent the escape of any of the water and suds wrung outof the clothes or other fabrics. The water and suds so expressed findtheir way back into the suds-box A through an opening, 0t,in the end ofthe same,- just above the attachment of said wringingboard. To the backof said suds-box, at the top thereof, and extending along its wholelength, is secured an inclined deflecting or guiding board, 1), whichserves to convey back into suds-boxA whatever water may be raised out ofthe same, and over the rear line thereof, by the action of theoperating-frame and the clothes sash hereinafter described. To thisdeflecting or guiding board, and to the rear of suds-box A, l rigidlysecure a standard, E, which rises above said suds-box anddeflectingboard, and to the top of which is pivoted an operatinglever-frame, F. Said lever-frame F is pivoted near its rear end, and isprovided in front with a cross-bar, F, which may be grasped and drawndown by the hands of the operator. Said lever-frame is also provided atits rear end with three hooks, g, which are respectively adapted tocatch into the upper ends of three helical springs, G, that are socuredby their lower ends to a horizontal bar or large staple, H, which isrigidly attached to the rear of said sudsbox A. Said springs operate totilt upward the front part of said said lever-frame and the clothes-sashattached thereto. By unhooking one or more of them the power of saidwashing-machine may be adjusted conformably to the texture and generalcharacter of the garments to be washed.

I designates a clothes-sash pivotally hung from lever-frame F, so as tohave vertical vibration in suds-box A, between two uprightwash-boards,JJ. Said clothes-sash (as shown in Fig. 2) consists of twostandards, i i, which are pivoted by their upper ends to the ends of across-bar,f, of lever-frame F, and of three cross-bars, i, i, and l.Gross-bars 2' 1 the highest and the lowest of the three, are fixed; butthe middle cross-bar l is vertically adjustable, so as to adapt thesash-frame 1 to be used with clothes of various kinds and sizes. Thisadjustment is effected by means of a vertical rod or bar, K, which isrigidly secured at its lower end to the middle of said adjustablecross-bar, and which passes up through a perforation, V, in uppercross-bar The ends of said adjustable cross bar 1 are provided withtongues, which set into vertical grooves on the inner sides of standards6 "i, and move freely up and down in the same. Said adjustable cross-barl is locked in any vertical location desired by means of a slidinghorizontal pin, 1, which slides in a groove on the top of upper fixedcross-bar 11 and enters any one of a series of transverse perforations,k, in rod K. Said pin 1 is actuated by a spring, l, which pressesagainst its rear end, as shown and said pin is covered by a sheet-metalcasing, 1 Said pin may be withdrawn from said perforations k by means ofa handle or grasping piece, L, which is rigidly secured to the upperside ofit. The cross-bars and standards of sash l are all rounded, so asto preserve the clothes from injury.

Wash-boards J J both curve outward at the middle, so as to presentconvex faces to said clothes-sash I. Said faces are covered withtransversely ribbcdor corrugated metal sheets Rear wash-board J is fixedin its position; but from wash-hoard J is free at the bottom and sides,and adjustably secured at the top, as follows: Short journals orgudgeons M M, two in number. are secured to the sides of said adjustablewash-board J-one on each side thereof-and pass through horizontal slotsm m in the ends of suds-box A. The outer ends of said gndgeons M aresecured to levers N N, which are pivoted to the ends of said suds-box.By moving said levers forward or backward said wash-board J iscorrespondingly adjusted. Said levers and washboard may be locked in anydesired position of such adjustment by means of vertical catchplates orcatches n n on said levers, which are adapted to engage with notchedhorizontal plates or racks n a, secured to the top of suds-box A, at theends thereof, as shown in Fig. 5.

The upper part of the back of said adjust able washboard J is providedwith two helical expansion-springs, P P, which are secured by their rearends to the inner side of the rear of suds-box A. Said springs operateto force the upper end of said adjustable wash-board J toward theclothes-sash already described, when said springs are compressed bydrawing levers N backward. The rear of said washboard is also providedat its top with a hook, Q, which is connected by a helical spring, R,with a vertically-vibrating lever, S, which is pivoted by one end to thefront of said sudsbox A. Said lever S is provided with a horizontalcatch-plate, s, which engages with a vertical notched plate or rack, t,rigidly secured to a vertical bar, '1, that is attached by lugs orfoot-pieces to the front of said sudsbox. The operation of spring R isthe reverse of that of springs P P.

By means of said springs, levers, and looking devices. adjustablewashboard J may be adjusted to, and secured in, various positions withrelation to the said clothes-sash, so as to regulate the amount offriction applied to the fabrics carried thereby. The washing is effectedby moving said clothes-sash up and down rapidly between saidwash-boards.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit ofour invention. For instance, one spring P may be used instead of two;also one lever N may be used instead of two. In other cases the numberof parts, as well as their construction and arran gement, may be changedbut we prefer the devices as shown.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a washing-machine, the Wash-board J, pivoted at its lower ends tothe suds-box A, said wash-board being curved at its bottom and straightat the top, and provided with expanding-springs P, levers S, and springR, attached to the upper part, in combination with stationary wash-boardJ, clothes-sash I, operating substantially as described.

2. In a clothesash for a washing-machine, an adjustable cross-bar,1, andperforated ad justing-rod K, in combination with stationary cross-bar2', having spring locking device recessed therein, substantially asdescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the above we have hereunto subscribed ournames in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT 1). SMITH. JOHN B. OOLLISON.

Witnesses:

E. GARDNER, G. K. SANDS.

